Flywheel Energy Storage
Basics
- The Use of a flywheel (Typically magnetically levitated, using an induction powered motor in either a hydrogen atmosphere or a vacuum to store, and release energy
- High Energy Density, Long Life, Ease of Use, Not many rare materials required
Back of the Envelope Calculation
On flywheel: assume a 1 meter radius for simplicity, a flywheel in the limit of all mass on rim. Say 1000 kg wheel. E=1/2MV^2 - say it's spinning 2000 RPM = 33 rps (achievable readily) - then you have v=209 m/s so
E= 1/2 *1000 * 40,000 = 20 megajoules = 20 megawatt seconds or driving your 5 kW generator for 4000 seconds -
That appears to be 5kW for one hour. Amazing! Take out inefficiencies, and you probably have 5kW for 1/2 hour. 90% generator eff, 90% transmission efficiency, 90% extraction efficiency, 10% power loss from friction - so 40% loss right there in rough estimate.
But, can we do a 1000kg wheel with mass-on-rim at 1 meter? That is huge. And how to drive it? With continuously variable transmission?
MJ
OSE Work
Internal Links
External Links
- The Wikipedia Page on Flywheel Energy Storage
- A video by the youtube channel "New Mind" detailing the concepts history, science, and current stance
- A video by the youtube channel "Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment" - good 50 min lecture
- A Ted Talk on FES
- A video by the youtube channel "Exhibitions & Trade Fairs"
- A video by the youtube channel "Justin Ellis"
- A video by the youtube channel "Michael Craner"
- A video by the youtube channel "Stornetic"
- A 2010 Paper Titled "Losses in hybrid and active magnetic bearings applied to Long Term Flywheel Energy Storage"
- An Open Access 2021 Paper Titled "Critical Review of Flywheel Energy Storage System"